| MARY ASTOR'S PURPLE DIARY - THE MUSICAL - First Private Industry Reading 11/17/22 | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 03:00 pm EST 11/13/22 | |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE MICHAEL GARIN & MARDIE MILLIT TO PRESENT FIRST PRIVATE INDUSTRY READING OF MARY ASTOR'S PURPLE DIARY AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL INSPIRED BY EDWARD SOREL'S BOOK OF THE SAME NAME ARRANGMENTS & MUSIC DIRECTION BY LON HOYT DIRECTED BY CARL ANDRESS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 @ 3PM OPEN JAR STUDIOS (1601 BROADWAY, STUDIO 12L; NYC) New York, NY – Michael & Mardie LLC (Michael Garin and Mardie Millit) will present the FIRST private industry reading of MARY ASTOR'S PURPLE DIARY, an original musical inspired by the book of the same name by Edward Sorel, with book by Mardie Millit and music and lyrics by Michael Garin. Directed by Carl Andress, with music direction by Lon Hoyt, the reading will be held at Open Jar Studios (1601 Broadway, Studio 12L) on Thursday, November 17 at 3pm. Mary Astor's Purple Diary is a musical fairy tale for adults, inspired by Ed Sorel's best-selling book of the same name. It's a fizzy little cocktail of a musical about a Hollywood sex scandal, love, obsession, growing up, and the media's role in celebrity culture, with a bit of magic along the way. The real "Purple Diary" was the biggest sex scandal of 1936 — a post-divorce custody battle between a sexually liberated female Hollywood star and her controlling ex-husband. Our hero, Ed, an illustrator, becomes obsessed with the star and her seemingly glamorous life. Things heat up when the star herself magically appears to set things straight. It takes a whole gaggle of Old Hollywood names, Broadway playwrights, and half of the Algonquin Round Table to answer the question: "Why did she write it all down?" The company of Mary Astor is Jennifer Laura Thompson* (Mary Astor), Max Crumm* (Ed Sorel) Edward Juvier* (William Hays/Alexander Woollcott/Ensemble), E. Clayton Cornelius* (John Barrymore/Sam Goldwyn/Moss Hart/Ensemble), Jen Sanchez* (Nancy/Florabel Muir/Dorothy Parker/Ensemble), Carmen Ruby Floyd* (Ruth Chatterton/Ensemble), and Avery Trunko* (Stage Manager). *Denotes member of Actors Equity Association. The creative and production team includes Conrad Korsch (Bass), Peter Van Dam / Tara Rubin Casting (Casting), and Brierpatch Productions (General Management). Bios Mardie Millit (Book) is a multi-award-winning singer/actor, as well as a writer whose work Stephen Sondheim praised as "first rate…the feeling for language and rhythm and theatricality reminds me of nobody so much as (gasp!) W.H. Auden." As a performer, her weekly online music/comedy show, LIVE FROM LOCKDOWN!, started in April 2020 and established her as a zany refuge for frazzled frontline workers and regular citizens all over the world. She and her on- and offstage partner in crime, Michael Garin, shared the 2022 MAC Award for their long-running musical residency at the West Bank Café. They have appeared together at many Manhattan venues, most notably Elaine's, the legendary nightspot where Mardie became known for her late-night duets with TV and movie heartthrobs, and even a former head of the CIA. She has starred regionally in a slew of classic musical theatre roles and in New York premieres of original musicals by the likes of William Peter Blatty, Billy Stritch and Mark Waldrop. Her most recent theatrical endeavors have been with Vanessa Paradis Dream Productions at the Triad and Laurie Beechman Theatres, where her favorite roles have included Joanne in Company and the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods. She and Michael Garin have been married since 2012 and live in Harlem. Michael Garin (Music/Lyrics) Drama Desk Award winner Michael Garin ("A virtuoso musical wit" – NY Times) has been a mainstay in New York City nightlife for decades. From hosting the midnight burlesque shows in the mid-'90s that launched the burlesque revival (and landed him in L'Uomo Vogue in an Ellen von Unwerth photo spread), to co-creating and co-starring in Song of Singapore, the groundbreaking environmental musical (for which he received the aforementioned Drama Desk Award), to several acting gigs working for Spike Lee (including the oddest of jobs: screaming the N word in a voice-over for Do The Right Thing), he has never failed to create a fresh new style tailored to venue and circumstance. In addition to the Drama Desk, Michael is an Outer Critics' Circle, MAC and Bistro Award winning performer whose résumé includes Elaine's, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, the Monkey Bar, the Rainbow Room, and the VIP Room at Limelight. He has created a beguiling musical experience at the Roxy Hotel, where he is in his sixth year as Resident Pianist, blurring the distinction between pianist and DJ with his always astonishing musical mashups, and cheered on by regulars like David Johansen and A$AP Rocky. Carl Andress (Director) is an American theater and film director and producer who is proud to have staged over 15 original productions of critically acclaimed plays written by and starring Charles Busch, including The Tribute Artist, The Confession of Lily Dare, The Divine Sister, Bunnicula - The Musical, and Die, Mommie, Die!, in addition to many other New York and Regional productions, developmental workshops of new works and numerous galas and benefits, including the NY concert premieres of The Visit, A Wonderful Life, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, and Valley of the Dolls all to benefit The Entertainment Community Fund on Broadway. Carl is also co-writer and co-director of the comedy feature film, The Sixth Reel, which premiered at OutFest Los Angeles in August 2021 and will be distributed by Wolfe Releasing. He is also the co-writer and costar of the independent feature, A Very Serious Person which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Carl Andress is the co-recipient of the 2022 Einhorn Mentorship Award, given by the prominent New York theater company, Primary Stages. carlandress.com Lon Hoyt (Musical Director) has been working on Broadway for nearly 40 years. He was music director/supervisor for Hairspray on Broadway; three National Tours; Toronto, Las Vegas, London, Johannesburg and Cologne companies, the 2006 film Hairspray, and the 2016 the NBC Hairspray Live production. He was music director/vocal arranger for Broadway's On Your Feet as well Music Supervisor for Lennon. Other Broadway MD/Conductor credits include Beautiful, Escape to Margaritaville, Rock of Ages, Hair, Catch Me If You Can, The Rocky Horror Show, Street Corner Symphony and Footloose. Off Broadway MD for Hereafter, Forever Plaid, Song of Singapore, A Backer's Audition, and Hit the Lights! Regional theater credits include Burt Bacharach's Some Lovers, Duncan Sheik/Steven Sater's The Nightingale, music supervisor for the Sheryl Crow/Barry Levinson musical Diner. and Hollywood Bowl productions of Hairspray and Hair. Also Music Consultant for the films Hairspray, Boys on the Side, Joyful Noise and Annie. Lon appeared in lead roles on Broadway in Tommy, Baby, Leader of the Pack, Starlight Express, and RockNRoll! The First 5000 Years. |
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